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Senior Conservatives have insisted they can still reduce overall levels of net migration despite calls from backbenchers to rethink their approach.

Former minister Liam Fox told the Sunday Telegraph the party's target of cutting net migration to below 100,000 by 2015 was "statistical nonsense".

He called for a "clearer narrative", based on curbing low-skilled labour.

But party chairman Grant Shapps said non-EU migration was at its lowest since 1998 and the target could be met.

The latest figures show net annual migration - the difference between the number of people leaving the country and those settling - rose by 58,000 to 212,000 in the year to September 2013.

In opposition, David Cameron said the Tories would reduce the figure from a peak of about 250,000 under the previous Labour government to the "tens of thousands".

Although levels steadily declined in 2012 after tighter restrictions on non-EU migrants took effect, the trend has since reversed - largely due to the increase in the number of migrants from other EU countries.

'Positive vision'

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Fox - a former defence secretary - said it was time to abandon the target - which is not government policy due to the opposition of the Lib Dems.

"There needs to be a clearer narrative on immigration, stressing not only the need to restrict numbers, but also to determine which individuals, with what skills, enter our country," he said.

“Start Quote

We cannot have any control over who comes to Britain while we are members of the EU. It is as simple as that”

End QuoteNigel Farage

"While Conservative policy has concentrated on getting down the net migration numbers it is actual numbers that affect school places, housing and health. The Conservatives must ditch this statistical nonsense."

Rather than trying to control overall levels, he said the Conservatives must focus on getting the "right kind of migration" for the needs of a growing economy.

Mr Fox also warned the party against a "dangerous complacency" over the appeal of UKIP, which argues that the only way to control immigration from the EU is to leave the union.

He said UKIP drew most of its support from former Conservative voters and the party should "set out a positive vision, clear philosophy, and definable objectives" rather than trying to outflank UKIP on the right.

"Many decent and patriotic people in this country have been willing to consider flirting with UKIP. We should not insult their motivations by denigrating their voting choice," he said.

'Pull factors'

But Mr Shapps told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that there was "still time" for the net migration target to be fulfilled.

"The pledge is for the end of the Parliament - we are only part way through," he said. "That is still our goal - to bring the numbers down."

Rather than Eastern Europe, he suggested that the UK was now seeing increased migration from Italy and Spain.

He defended the government's efforts to address the so-called "pull factors" attracting people to the UK such as access to benefits and other public services.

He added: "Those figures mask the fact that we have immigration from outside the EU - the bit we can most control - down to the lowest level since 1998. This is a big improvement."

But UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the UK had no real control over either the number or the type of migrants that were settling from elsewhere in the EU.

"The British public now understand that it is utterly meaningless to set targets of tens of thousands a year or whatever you choose," he said.

"We cannot have any control over who comes to Britain while we are members of the EU. It is as simple as that."

Tweets: On welfare, the NHS and Europe conservatives are winning the argument. Shame about the election.My @telegraph column

06:59:Murdoch response

When the Labour leader declared he was tough enough to be prime minister by virtue of having stood up to Mr Murdoch, the News International owner tweeted: "Thanks for 2 mentions, Ed Miliband. Only met once for all of 2 minutes when you embarrassed me with over the top flattery."

06:58:The Twitter conversation

In a blog post, Twitter cited Kantar Media analysis stating the leaders' TV grilling made up 94.7% of UK Twitter conversation about TV over the evening, with more than 300,000 tweets sent by 10.15pm. There were more mentions of Mr Cameron than Mr Miliband but Labour saw more mentions than the Conservatives, while the moment that generated the most tweets came at the end of the debate as Mr Paxman asked the Labour leader: "Are you OK, Ed?" And Miliband replied: "Yeah, are you?"

06:50:

At one stage in Miliband's interview the audience audibly gasped when Paxman said to him many people wished it was his brother who was leader.

06:49:

Here is one of the promotional pictures from last night. David Cameron poses with Jeremy Paxman and Kay Burley

06:38:Post-match opinions

Here's a quick round up of what some people have been saying in the aftermath of last night's televised interviews with Ed Miliband and David Cameron.

BBC presenter Andrew Neil: "Paxo was superb tonight. But winging it towards end with Miliband. Seemed better prepared against Cameron. Miliband was struggling at times but viewers will perhaps think he stood up better to Paxo than the PM."

The Labour leader said wealth creation is "incredibly important" and said his relationship with brother David was "healing"

Mr Cameron said he had "turned the economy around"

A snap Guardian/ICM poll suggested a victory for the prime minister with 56% thinking he won, compared to 46% for the Labour leader

A government bid to change the rules on electing the Commons Speaker was defeated

The Electoral Commission revealed it has referred two allegations the Liberal Democrats received donations in breach of party funding rules to the Metropolitan Police

That's all from Politics Live for tonight. We're back tomorrow from 06:00 GMT.

@benatipsosmoriBen Page, Chief executive of Ipsos MORI

tweets: Labour much more disciplined online that Conservatives. Their MPs sent 358 Tweets. Conservative MPs sent just 27, #BattleforNo10

23:57:Miliband 'quite happy'The Spectator

James Forsyth says Ed Milliband will be pleased with tonight's performance. Despite the Labour leader losing the night by 54% to 46%, according to the Guardian's instant ICM poll, he will be reassured by the narrowness of his defeat, Mr Forsyth argues.

Writing in the Spectator, he says: "I suspect that Labour will be quite happy with Miliband going head to head with Cameron and only losing by a narrow margin. That might sound absurd but it reflects the two parties' relative confidence in their leaders."

23:56:Labour fracasChris MasonPolitical correspondent, BBC News

A senior Labour source has acknowledged that Ed Miliband was caught up in what Friday's Daily Mirror describes as an "ambush" in which he was "pushed and shoved by protesters" whilst out campaigning.

Mr Miliband was in Rotherhithe, in south east London, at lunchtime today when he found his path back to his car blocked by a few noisy demonstrators - including one wearing a facemask of the former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond.

Those around the Labour leader don't want to make much of it.

A senior source told me: "This is part of the rough and tumble of the election campaign. Ed shrugged it off and moved on."

I'm told the protester wearing the facemask "got a bit exuberant."

Labour suspect he was a Conservative activist "who got a bit carried away."

23:43:Leader interviews: Ed on DavidSky News

One of the most interesting exchanges tonight was over Ed Miliband's relationship with his brother David. Ed Miliband conceded their relationship is still "healing" after both stood to be leader of the Labour Party in 2010. Mr Miliband was asked by a member of the audience if he thought David Miliband would have done a better job. "No" was his answer.

Asked if he had regrets about creating division in his family, Mr Miliband said it was "hard", adding it, "was bruising for me, it was bruising for David". He described the brothers' relationship as "strained". "It's healed or healing I would say - just being completely frank with you about that," he said.

Scottish government minister Humza Yousaf says 300 people joined the SNP during tonight's leaders interviews.

23:33:English 'worry' over election deals

People in England find talk of deals with the SNP and Plaid Cymru after the election "worrying" says Janet Street Porter on Question Time.

23:31:Tomorrow's Herald front page

23:29:Your sayVincent Adams, Reading, UK

writes: I am a floating voter swaying towards the Conservatives. With that in mind I was surprised at how well Ed came across, after what I thought was a shaky start. I think David edged it but it was closer than I thought it would be.

‏@brianpaddickBrian Paddick, Lib Dem peer and former London mayoral candidate

tweets: Left-leaning people call it for Miliband, right-leaning for Cameron, poll about even. Conclusion: neither convincing. Need to see Nick Clegg

23:24:Salmond wants to 'write Labour budget'

Alex Salmond wants the power to write the next Labour budget, says Conservative Nicky Morgan on Question Time. If the Tories are in government, George Osborne will write the budget, she says.

23:24:Murphy on Salmond

Alex Salmond loves the sound of his own voice, Jim Murphy says on Question Time. It's surprising the Tories want to give him a megaphone to amplify that voice, the Scottish Labour leader adds.

23:14:UKIP on Barnett Formula

England gets a raw deal from the Barnett Formula, UKIP's Steven Woolfe says on Question Time. People who are really suffering want to know they are getting a fair share, he adds. Jim Murphy says he agrees with the current set up. You have more rural communities in Scotland, it is often more difficult and expensive to provide for them, he says.

@RichardARichard Adams, Guardian education editor

tweets: Ed Miliband made a big mistake by not going first tonight. He missed out on the biggest TV audience, which he needed.

@DPJHodgesDan Hodges, Commentator for the Telegraph

tweets: Apparently, those "switchers" in the Guardian/ICM poll represented just 8% of the sample. Just 80-90 people. Statistically meaningless.

23:10:Interviews poll

Some more from the Guardian/ICM poll on tonight's leader interviews. It suggests that from those who said they might change their mind, 56% said they would now vote for Labour, compared with 30% who said they'd now vote for the Conservatives. More on the Guardian website.

(Add: this part of the sample was a very small part of the wider group).

23:09:Pic: Question Time continues the debate

We're spoilt for choice for post-match analysis - as well as Newsnight and This Week later, Question Time is also dissecting the leaders' performance at the moment on BBC One.

Coming up on This Week

There will be more reaction to the leaders' interviews with Andrew Neil, Diane Abbott, Michael Portillo and Miranda Green on This Week, live from 23:45 GMT. They will start off talking about how long prime ministers and business leaders should go on in the job with former M&S boss Stuart Rose. Watch his film here.

23:08:Recap on brotherly relations

Ed Miliband has conceded that his relationship with his brother, David, is still "healing" after both stood to be leader of the Labour Party in 2010.

At the Sky/Channel 4 election question and answer, Mr Miliband was asked if he had regrets about creating division in his family. Mr Miliband said it was "hard" and it "was bruising for me, it was bruising for David". He described the brothers' relationship as "strained". "It's healed or healing I would say - just being completely frank with you about that," he said.

@SamCoatesTimesSam Coates, Deputy Political Editor, The Times

tweets: Instant result on tonight's TV debate by YouGov's First Verdict app for The Times:

David Cameron said during tonight's interview that he did not ask Lord Green about allegations of wrongdoing at HSBC when he appointed him trade minister.

Lord Green, who was trade minister from January 2011 to December 2013, had been head of HSBC during the period it is accused of actively helping clients avoid tax.

Being questioned by Jeremy Paxman, Mr Cameron said Lord Green's appointment to the government was "welcomed across the political spectrum" and no concerns about HSBC were raised.

"I didn't ask him about that specific question but we went through all the normal processes and procedures that you would with appointing a minister," he said.

"Proper checks, including checks by the inland revenue into someone's tax affairs, so it was properly dealt with."

@afneilAndrew Neil, BBC presenter

tweets: Paxo was superb tonight. But winging it towards end with Miliband. Seemed better prepared against Cameron.

22:58:FT front page

22:58:Plaid on interviews

Leanne Wood, the Plaid Cymru leader, says on Question Time that there was no acknowledgment from the prime minister about the impact of austerity during tonight's interviews. Ed Miliband's acceptance that his party was wrong on regulation of the banks was important, she says - he should now ensure the banks and bankers pay for cuts, not poorer people.

22:56:Nicky Morgan's verdict

Nicky Morgan, the Conservative education secretary, tells Question Time the debates have some merit, particularly if they get people involved in politics. People want to know what David Cameron and Ed Miliband are like, she says. But Mr Cameron has been doing the job for five years and has made a strong case for what he has done.

tweets: Snap icm poll gives it narrowly 54:46 to @David_Cameron ... Labour would take that as an approval rating score

22:55:Murphy on mansion tax

Jim Murphy, the Scottish Labour leader, is responding to questions about the mansion tax on Question Time. He says the policy is about redistribution of wealth. An audience member isn't happy - he asks why "we" should give more resources to Scotland when 40% voted to leave the Scotland. Mr Murphy says Scotland voted to stay and we should keep on sharing resources.

Nigel Farage is preparing for the debate next week in a similar way to how he prepared for the Europe debates with Nick Clegg last year, Patrick O'Flynn says. We'll be giving it our absolute best shot, he says.

22:48:Miliband 'gave as good as he got'BBC NewsnightBBC Two, 22:30

Caroline Flint is spearheading the Labour spin effort on Newsnight, where she says, despite a combative interview from Jeremy Paxman, Ed Miliband "gave as good as he got".

The SNP's Humza Yousaf, says: "This programme showed that neither the Tories nor Labour reflect the needs and priorities of the people of Scotland. David Cameron had no answers to where the cuts would fall, but we know from the Tory record that they would fall on the most vulnerable in society and the working poor. Ed Miliband's fatal flaw is to accept the same level of Tory spending cuts, while wanting to waste £100 billion on a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons to be dumped in Scotland."

22:44:Bouts to come...BBC NewsnightBBC Two, 22:30

BBC Newsnight is assessing the evening's events now. There's also this rather fun graphic to trail ahead to next week's seven-way debate...

‏tweets: Tonight proved Lynton Crosby right that Cameron has most to lose from TV debates. Public get to see Miliband in way not previously seen

22:43:Hague's verdict

Ex-Conservative leader William Hague says he thinks, unsurprisingly perhaps, that David Cameron gave "very good" answers to the questions he was asked. There was no economic plan from Ed Miliband, the Tory MP and out-going leader of the house says.

22:40:Mirror verdict

Kevin Maguire from the Labour-supporting Daily Mirror says David Cameron hasn't done himself any lasting damage tonight, but probably hasn't done himself any good either. He says Ed Miliband decided attack was the best form of defence. I suspect Ed Miliband learned about how to deal with Paxman from the early exchange with Mr Cameron, says Mr Maguire.

@MarinaHydeMarina Hyde, Guardian columnist

tweets: Went to one of the spin rooms in 2010. A definite two-bath event.

@rupertmurdochRupert Murdoch

tweets: Thanks for 2 mentions, Ed Miliband. Only met once for all of 2 minutes when you embarrassed me with over-the-top flattery.

tweets: Good night for Ed, neutral for Kay, bad for Jeremy, dire for Dave

22:33:Independent front page

22:32:Post match analysis

Well, there was a lot of get your teeth into there. Who did it better? Have you changed your mind on who you'll vote for? Email us politics@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @bbcpolitics with your views

‏@rosschawkinsRoss Hawkins, BBC political correspondent

tweets: Labour are confronting the - is your leader up to it issue head on. All the tough guy stuff no coincidence.

@DavidWoodingDavid Wooding, Political editor, Sun on Sunday

tweets: Bet both Cameron and Miliband would have preferred a head-to-head than separate maulings by Paxo. But both survived it. #BattleForNumber10

22:28:We're all alright

As they finish, the microphones pick up Jeremy Paxman asking Ed Miliband: "Are you ok, Ed?" The Labour leader replies: ""Yeah, are you?"

22:28:Pic: Paxman finishes interview and asks 'You alright?'

22:27:Tough enough?

"You need a toughness in this job... I'm a pretty resilient guy and I have been underestimated at every turn," says Ed Miliband. There's an audible sympathetic "ooh" from the audience at that question.

@georgeeatonGeorge Eaton, Political editor, News Statesmen

tweets: Miliband clearly better-prepared than Cameron - advantage of not being PM. #BattleForNumber10

22:27:Geek?

"They see you as a north London geek", says Jeremy Paxman. "Who cares?" replies Ed Miliband.

22:26:Star front page

22:25:Media image

Ed Miliband says criticism of him in the media are "water off a duck's back". The thing I have learned most in this job, he says, is to be yourself. He has stood up for the things he believes in, he says. "I don't care about what the newspapers say... I care about British people and what happens to them," he says.

22:25:Tough enough

People think you're not tough enough, Jeremy Paxman says. Let me tell you, Ed Miliband says, looking a bit tougher. On Syria and intervention there, Mr Miliband says he made up his mind and said No. Standing up to the leader of the free world shows character, he adds. He adds: "Am I tough enough? Hell yes, I'm tough enough."

@MASieghartMary Ann Sieghart

tweets: "Keep the language simple, Ed." "OK - can I use words like 'consequentials' and 'redistribution' then?" No! #BattleForNumber10

22:23:Trident

Would you move Trident out of Scotland if the SNP demanded it? No, Ed Miliband says. I'm not going to get into a bargaining game with Alex Salmond, Mr Miliband says. Oh yes you will if you need a coalition deal, is the suggestion from Jeremy Paxman as they discuss the subject.

haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukGet involved

Charlotte in Baildon writes: Utterly appalled by Paxman's inconsistent approach to these interviews. Cameron allowed to answer questions fully and Miliband hardly allowed to answer before he's interrupted and hit with another question. Not impressed.

haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukGet involved

ARC Cornwall writes: The most impressive person in these debates was definitely Jeremy Paxman. Why can't we have him as Prime Minister? No weasel words or wishy-washy views with him at least. I'd vote for the Paxman Party any day.

22:22:Miliband to Paxman: You won't decide election

22:20:Mansion tax

Mansion tax next. Is this his way of taking money from the south-east of England to give to Scotland? Ed Miliband says the levy will involve homes mostly in the south east but this is part of being a United Kingdom, he says. You can have redistribution across the UK, he adds.

22:18:Energy bills

On energy policy, Ed Miliband used to believe in raising energy bills, now he wants them to fall, Jeremy Paxman says. Mr Miliband says that isn't the case - he didn't think higher bills would tackle climate change. He always said energy bills should be fair, he adds.

@matthancockmpMatt Hancock, MP for West Suffolk. Minister for Business, Enterprise and Energy

tweets: On this evidence, can anyone imagine Ed Miliband standing up to Putin? #BattleForNumber10

22:18:'Give us a clue'

The audience enjoys Miliband struggling to specify which programmes the Labour leader thought were examples of over-spending under the previous government. He was asked: "Did you spend too much?" by Jeremy Paxman, who then pressed: "Give us a clue, come on."

22:17:Cuts?

What would you cut, Ed Miliband is asked. There are going to be reductions in spending outside some protected areas, he says. Labour is going to make these decisions in government, Ed Miliband says. He adds his overall approach is based on fair taxes and cutting spending. Would overall spending go up? No, it is likely to fall, Ed Miliband says.

Government make mistakes, there are always inefficiencies, Ed Miliband. But let's talk about the future, he adds. "Yes let's," says Paxman. It's getting a bit feisty.

22:14:Where did Labour go wrong?

What else did Labour get wrong when last in power, Jeremy Paxman asks. Ed Miliband, in addition to immigration, adds the party was "too relaxed about inequality". Asked if they borrowed too much, Ed Miliband said the figure was high because of the global financial crisis. He says no government gets it completely right.

22:13:Immigration figure

"I'm not going to pluck a figure out the air on migration," Ed Miliband says. "There's no finite limit?" Jeremy Paxman asks.

We can get low-skilled migration down, Ed Miliband says. But he won't be drawn on numbers as Jeremy Paxman asks if a population of 75m or 80m was too many people.

22:10:Immigration

Jeremy Paxman starts on immigration - and whether Britain is full. Ed Miliband says he wouldn't describe it that way; we have high levels of migration that need to be reduced, but he says he won't make false promises. He admits Labour has got it wrong before on the issue.

Have you learned from the mistakes of the last Labour government, Ed Miliband is asked. We were wrong on the regulation of the banks, Ed Miliband says. "I'm sorry we got it wrong", he adds, "but we've learned the lesson". Has Ed Balls learned the lesson the questioner asks - "yes" says Mr Miliband.

BBC links

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